Obituary: Betty Jones

Obituary: Betty Jones

January 12th, 2012 in Obituaries

Betty Jones, age 83, a long-time resident of the Portland community, died suddenly Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at South East Alabama Medical Center, Dothan, Alabama. She was born January 13, 1928, to the late Claire Oxley and Lela Neyman Atkinson. Betty married Jacob Jones on March 13, 1945, in Fulton. Betty drove a school bus for South Callaway while also managing and operating Jones Store, with her husband, for many years. In a career shift, she took a position as postmistress at the Portland Post Office where she worked until her retirement from the US Postal Service in 1990. Betty was a member of the Portland Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, played the piano, and served as secretary/treasurer. Life after retirement included mission work for the Lord. She and Jake, members of Campers on Missions for over 20 years, were serving at the Florida Baptist College in Graceville, Fla., at the time of her death. Summertime volunteering included dishwashing at Camp Windermere in Roach, Mo. for thousands of campers. Survivors include her husband, Jacob (Jake) Jones, of the home; two sons, Jerry (wife, Diane) Jones of Nixa and Jack (wife, Susan) Jones of Columbia; four daughters, Janice (husband, Jim) Dickneite of Jefferson City, Dotty (husband, Tim) Sapp of Columbia, Jody (husband, Mike) Mealy of Portland and Joyce Dempsay of Girard, Ill.; one sister, Mildred Cooke of Columbia; three sisters-in-law, Dorotha Meinhardt of Fulton, Bonnie Gregerof Palmetto, Fla., and Mabel Jones of Portland; 16 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Claire Sue Jones; one infant son, Joseph Lee Jones; one grandson, Stephen Dickneite; and one brother, Robert Atkinson. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 15 at Debo Funeral Home in Fulton. Visitation is scheduled from 12:30 p.m. until the time of service. Reverend Gene Harris will be officiating with words by Reverend Terry O'Brien and Steve Webb. Interment will be at Callaway Memorial Gardens. The Williams Funeral Chapel, Graceville, Fla. and Debo Funeral Home, Fulton, have been entrusted with the arrangements. Memorial gifts may be made to Camp Windermere or the Florida Baptist College, in care of Debo Funeral Home, P.O. Box 818, Fulton, MO 65251. Condolences can be sent by visiting www.debofuneralhome.com.